-Chapter 3-
Feather Dance
Garrett backed into the vines, pulling on them trying to get any sort of separation, but they were strong and unrelenting. This Venusaur was clearly much stronger than he even realized, as it was attune to the nature of the area. The large grass-type approached them, clearly angry. "Spearow, go get help!", Garrett said, but the bird shook his head. "Please, get out of here! You can-", the trainer continued, but Spearow hopped off of his shoulder and confronted the Venusaur. Garrett was speechless. Spearow angrily squawked at the grass-type, and the Venusaur roaring a "Venusaaauurr!" right back. Garrett knew that Spearow was going to defend him at all costs. The noble act nearly made Garrett tear up, but he wiped his eyes, "Okay, Spearow! Give it a Leer!" The bird followed the command and gave the Venusaur a glare. The Venusaur retaliated by attempting to strike Spearow with a Vine Whip, but the bird was quite fast and evaded the attacks. "Spearow, Peck!", Garrett commanded. The bird took flight and began to glide right over the Venusaur, landing a peck on the Pokemon's head. He continued with subsequent pecks to the Venusaur's blooming flower and a few more to the head. Though, the Venusaur continued to attempt to swat him down, Spearow was exceptionally agile in dodging the attacks. "Keep it up, Spearow! Fury Attack!", Garrett shouted. Spearow readied his claws, and went for Venusaur's head once again, but in that moment, he had taken his eyes off of the vines. The Venusaur anticipated his trajectory, and struck Spearow with a vine. The bird shrieked in pain and hit the ground hard, feathers drifting toward the ground as the bird slid to a halt. "Spearow!", Garrett ran toward his fallen bird, putting a hand on Spearow's body. He was going into shock, body trembling as he was clearly in pain. "Damn it! Gallant!", he threw out his Squirtle. Gallant yawned and rubbed his eyes, looking around before jumping in shock at the sight of the Venusaur. "Squirt?!", the water-type questioned, before looking back at Garrett and Spearow. "Gallant, I...I know you're at a type disadvantage, but you gotta protect us!", Garrett spoke, while Spearow was panting and hissing, trying to stand, "Spearow, stay down. You can't-". The bird was on his feet, still trembling, but he was angry and stood beside Gallant.
"Gallant, Withdraw!", Garrett shouted. The Squirtle quickly stood between Spearow and the Venusaur, before tucking his head and limbs into his shell. He provided a defense for Spearow. The Venusaur grinned, and began to produce a large amount of leaves that began to spin rapidly, and launched them at Gallant. The trainer knew the attack at once, it was Razor Leaf! The leaves struck Gallant's shell, but seemed to do little to damage the Squirtle, and they were being blocked from striking Spearow. "Good! Now, Water Gun!", Garrett commanded. From the shell, a stream of water shot out and connected with Venusaur's eye. The big Pokemon winced and groaned, the attack not doing much as far as damage, but it caused a distraction. "Spearow, try your Fury Attack again!", the trainer commanded. Spearow staggered a bit, but then charged forward, propelling himself off of Gallant's shell and connecting his claws into the Venusaur's forehead. He scratched and dug deep, focusing all of his rage into a single spot. The Venusaur roared in pain. Garrett quickly grabbed another Pokeball. He waited for the right moment where Spearow was just out of the way. "You're mine this time, Pokeball-!", Garrett began to say.
The Venusaur aimed its flower right at Garrett. He blinked, as the flower began to glow and shimmer. The human was locked in place, watching as the flower grew brighter and brighter. Gallant poked his head out of his shell and saw the Solar Beam coming. And soon, the beam of light shot out of the bud. Garrett watched helplessly as he had nowhere to escape to. But Gallant quickly jumped in the way, as the Solar Beam connected with him. "Gallant!", the trainer gasped as the Squirtle took the hit, hitting the ground, steam rising from his shell as he closed his eyes and fainted. The Venusaur had to recharge, and Spearow was still slashing and clawing at the head, but with another strike of a Vine Whip, Spearow was downed, the bird landing right next to Gallant. The trainer's heart throbbed. His two Pokemon were both defeated, and in that moment, he saw the Venusaur begin to lick its lips, stomping forward toward the two. Garrett's heart skipped a beat. He remembered what just happened with that Wurmple. The Venusaur intended to do the same. "No, you can't have them! I won't let you!", Garrett quickly stepped in the way, blocking the Venusaur from advancing to what seemed like an easy meal. He spread his arms, "You're not getting them! You have to go through me!", Garrett cried out. The Venusaur was completely unphased, and readied another volley of Razor Leaf. "Sauuuurrr!", the grass-type roared, and the leaves struck Garrett, shredding his clothes and cutting deeply into his body. "Gyaahhhh!", Garrett screamed and collapsed to a knee. He felt his body tremble, but he stood and spread his arms again. Huffing, he groaned, "You're...you're not-"
Garrett watched a vine emerge from the Venusaur, and in an instant, he was on the ground again, but paralyzed. He could only watch from the ground now as the Pokemon stomped toward Spearow and Gallant, nothing standing in the way from the two helpless Pokemon. Tears rolled down Garrett's face as he cried, "Please...please don't..."
He felt a chill. He thought it was his body losing feeling, but as the Venusaur began to scoop Spearow up with a vine, snowflakes began to fall all around. The Venusaur stopped and looked about, "Sauuurrr?", it seemed confused. Garrett could only watch as a shard of ice fell from the sky and struck the vine, severing it. Spearow hit the ground as Venusaur backed away, looking to the sky, "Venus! Venusaur!", it was trying to converse with something that Garrett couldn't see, but immediately after, several more shards of ice shot from the sky. The Venusaur tried to avoid them, but several struck its body, and it quickly backed away. Garrett looked to the sky, and that was when he saw the most beautiful sight.
A bird hovered before them. Blue feathers, with a long, pristine tail, glistening in the light. The snowflakes continued to fall all around them, and Garrett could tell that the Venusaur was now shivering from the cold. He was finally able to get to his knees, though wobbly. Grass-types were weak against ice! He understood now. But he didn't know what bird he was looking at. He managed to grab his Pokedex and point it to the sky.
"Articuno – a legendary bird Pokemon. It freezes water that is contained in winter air and makes it snow.", the Pokedex dinged and spoke the name of the bird. "Articuno...", Garrett repeated the name. The Venusaur began to charge up it's Solar Beam once more, but the Legendary Bird responded by flapping its wings and causing a powerful blizzard. Garrett braced himself as the air suddenly became freezing, and he crawled over to Spearow and Gallant, wrapping the two of them up in his arms and bracing them. The blizzard swirled all around, as the Venusaur cried out and started to freeze solid. Garrett didn't see this happen, but he could hear the grass-type retreat, the thrums of footsteps sound as it took off.
The blizzard slowed down, and then the gentle snowfall continued. Garrett exhaled, his breath lingering in the air, as he looked up to the bird. Articuno gracefully watched from above as the Venusaur was now gone, and then peered down at him. The human trembled, not only from the experience, but the cold as well. The bird descended and landed before him. "Art...Articuno...", he repeated the name again. Articuno blinked its eyes a little, before looking down to Spearow and Gallant. The Squirtle was knocked out, but Spearow was wearily glaring up to the Legendary Bird. Garrett reached his arm out toward Articuno. He was so full of emotion from the rescue that all he wanted was to give the bird a hug. "S-spear...", Spearow scolded him. Garrett looked down. Spearow shook his head. The trainer let out a sigh, but nodded, "Right...I understand...that...that would be...rude...", he admitted. He looked up to Articuno. "Thank you...I don't...I don't know where to begin to thank you..."
The ice bird spread its wings, and lifted off. Garrett watched the bird soar into the air and disappear into the clouds. The snowfall steadily ceased, and a single blue feather fluttered down, landing gently before them. He sighed in relief before reaching for Gallant and Spearow's Pokeballs. He returned his two Pokemon before he stood and went over to the feather, picking it up. It glistened beautifully, and he looked to the sky once more, filled with courage and humility for what had just happened to him.